Lost/Forgotten Album #79

[Jon]

Here's the dilemma I had:

I wanted to get this album out there for all you fine folks to listen to. At first I wanted to post it in NMC as a "cleaning house 2011" post since I had bought it last year, but the album actually came out in 2010 but still has never been released in the U.S.

So, I could have broken the rules (Scott) or done the right thing. And unlike someone else (Scott) I have went down the right path for I am full of virtue and goodness and all that other fine crap.

A few years ago I posted a couple fine Picture albums (Diamond Dreamer & Eternal Dark) on another site that shall not be named and got some decent feedback. This week's L/F album is their first album in 25 years and I'm completely diggin' it.

Surprisingly after so long between albums they don't seem to have lost anything. This is good, old-fashioned metal, but not "dated metal". It's another one of those albums where I'm not embarrassed to drive around with the windows rolled down and the volume cranked all the way up. 

Old Dogs, New Tricks

1. Old Dogs New Tricks
2. Blood Out Of A Stone
3. High On Fire
4. Live By The Sword
5. Now It’s Too Late
6. Just Incredible
7. Who Can You Trust
8. Opposites Attract
9. Choosing Your Sign
10. A Better Soul
11. Celtic Cross
12. Never In A Million Years

Availability: Well, if you go to amazon, it's OOP and only one copy is available from a marketplace seller for around $18 (which is cheaper than the $21 I paid last year. oh well). Maybe it's available somewhere else.....

[Scott]

I know nothing of this band and dont recall any posting from the site that shall remain unnamed.  Any background info on tihs band that you can provide? 

 

The opening track was OK, not great, just OK.  But the riff on track 2 was really cool though!  Track 3 continues the album on a positive path, this is pretty good!  "Now Its Too Late" really caught my ear, loved the use of the acoustic solo leading into a very melodic electric geetar solo!  Nice song!  The album goes into a so-so period with "Just Incredible", "Who Can You Trust" and "Opposites Attract" but starts to get back on track with "Choosing Your Sign" and then hits a nice pace with "A Better Soul" which is a very melodic mid-tempo pop-rock styled tune, just perfect for my tastes!  "Celtic Cross" and "Never in a Milion Years" didnt work for me.  In fact the last track sounded like it was rushed as the geetar work didnt sound as well put together as the rest of the album.  A better choice would have been to end the album with "A Better Soul" and then this becomes a far better balanced album.

 

Clearly a talented band, loved hearing some melodic flavor in some relatively new music.  I'd say the geetar work is the star, vocally its not that great, his voice fits well in some parts but sounds out of place in many others.  Overall and surprisingly, I like it...

[Jon]

Those two albums listed above were the first ever L/F post! Thought this would bring back memories, since it's kinda nostalgic and all.

They're Dutch and started in the late 70's with their first album coming out in 1980.

Probably nobody you've heard of before in the band, yet they've been around for a long while, obviously bigger overseas then they are here (and by big I don't mean HUGE big, but big enough. Not Mr. Big big, if you know what I mean).

They have a new album coming out in Feb, probably not in the states though. The states don't need albums like this, they need more American Idol crap.

Here's their official site, if you're interested:

http://www.pictureofficial.com/

[Alan Christensen]

Hammerfall sing a song from this band on Masterpieces, otherwise I know nothing about Picture. Who would think they would still be making music? Not me.
1. Child of the Damned (Warlord) (Glory to the Brave)* 2. Ravenlord (Stormwitch) (“Glory to the Brave” single)*
3. Eternal Dark (Picture) (“Heeding the Call” single)*
4. Back to Back (Pretty Maids) (Legacy of Kings)*
5. I Want Out (Helloween) (I Want Out EP)*
6. Man on the Silver Mountain (Rainbow) (I Want Out EP/Holy Dio tribute)*
7. Head Over Heels (Accept) (“Renegade” single/Tribute to Accept)
8. Run With the Devil (Heavy Load) (“Renegade” single/Power From the North compilation)
9. We’re Gonna Make It (Twisted Sister) (“Hearts on Fire” single/Twisted Forever: A Tribute to Twisted Sister)*
10. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest) (“Always Will Be” single)
11. Angel of Mercy (Chastain) (Crimson Thunder)
12. Rising Force (Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force) (Crimson Thunder, European release)*
13. Detroit Rock City (KISS) (Crimson Thunder, US release)
14. Crazy Nights (Loudness) (Crimson Thunder, Japanese release)*
15. Nar Vindarna Mitt Namn (Roger Pontare) (Melodifestivalen 50 Ar compilation)
16. Flight of the Warrior (Riot) (new recording)*
17. Youth Gone Wild (Skid Row) (new recording)
18. Aphasia (Europe) (new recording)

The song Hammerfall covered is from the release Eternal Dark.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'm just not feeling this.  I don't hate it or anything, but I'm just not diggin' it.

[Gordon Williams]

Jon...I do remember the Picture music you posted on "that other site". I listened to those two over and over and over...because I really liked 'em.

So, it will be interesting to see if I like this. But, I don't think I would have remembered the name Picture without you mentioning the old post on the other site. Feel free to re-post those other two sometime! It could be a mid-week special or sumpin'...a "for Gordy" special...a "because I can" special...get my drift??

[Jon]

Got it!

[Gordon Williams]

I like this one, too, but if I remember correctly, I really liked the other two better than this one. Which does not make this one bad...it's not....just not as good, in my opinion.

I'll definitely be "re-listening" to this from time to time, as well. Been busy today here at work, so I have not had this new post cranked up loud yet.